We are in week who even knows anymore of quarantine – slowly but surely, we’re getting into a rhythm of this new way of life. For those of you who have had a huge change to work from home versus going to work, it’s definitely an adjustment. Even for those who work from home regularly, there is still a big adjustment that comes with being ‘quarantined’ to our homes.
One of the biggest things we’ve been feeling and hearing a lot of what you’re feeling too is struggling with staying productive. It’s just too easy to sit on the couch and binge the latest Netflix series, you know?
But we got you – we’re dropping 10 tips to help you stay productive in quarantine and honestly, anytime really… Incorporate these little tips into your day and you’ll be feeling more energized to get your work done.
1. Create a morning routine
This is so important during quarantine and in general when things go back to normal. Whether it’s a slow-moving morning, a cup of coffee first thing or even going for a solo walk – set a routine for yourself. Your brain will understand when you wake up that it’s time to get going with your day if you incorporate the same tasks every morning.
2. Keep your space clean
Cluttered space = cluttered mind. Plain and simple. You should always keep your space clean but specifically where you’re working, it should be clutter free. Having a clean workspace will eliminate distraction and calm your mind to focus on the task at hand.
3. Reduce media consumption
Our screen time is WAY up right now especially since were at home and there’s not a whole lot we can do to entertain ourselves (easily). We’re endlessly scrolling, reading a lot of news coverage and even using it to communicate with others. But it’s important to limit the amount of media (social or news) that were consuming because it’s honestly a BRAIN DRAIN. It’s not good for your mental health to be so stimulated constantly but also take in a lot of information that can be negative on your mindset. Set downtime settings on certain apps and keep your phone out of arms reach during work hours to limit how much you’re on your phone.
4. Prep healthy snacks
Being at home, it’s easy to make our way to the fridge and snack throughout the day. Snacking is okay but if you’re constantly consuming ‘garbage’ then you’re going to feel like garbage. You need to fuel your body and mind with nourishing, healthy foods to stay energized throughout the day. Plan your grocery list to incorporate healthy snacks and prep them ahead of time so they are easy to grab when you’re feeling snacky.
5. Move your body
Being at home, we really aren’t moving our bodies much. We move from our beds, to a chair, to the couch and then back to bed. Not much moving at all. So now more than ever – it’s important to get some daily movement in. On average we should be getting 10,000 steps in per day. If you are able to, get outside even if it’s just 20 minutes for a walk. There are also tons of free at home workouts online that you can do in under 30 minutes to get a good sweat on and your blood pumping. There is literally no excuse, if you can scroll on your phone for 30 minutes, you can get a quick sweat sesh in.
6. Facetime with friends and family
Probably seems counter intuitive to Facetime with friends and family to stay productive but since we're not able to physically socialize with people, we are missing a lot of human interaction. Facetiming with people that you love is a good way to feel refreshed, happy and inspired which will eventually lead to being energized to work and being productive. It’s a good way to break up the day so it doesn’t feel as lonely – especially if you’re used to working on a team.
7. Change your outfit
Seems simple but I bet a lot of you reading this are still in your PJs – get changed girlfriend! Since we’re home and nowhere to go, we think it’s fine to just stay in whatever we woke up in. We need to keep things as normal as we can during this time especially with the things we have control over. Get up in the morning, get ready and change into something different as if you were going to work. It’s important for our brains to still understand ‘it’s work time’ even though we’re still at home.
8. Make your mental health a priority
Check in with yourself on a daily basis. It’s important to prioritize our mental health and understand how we are feeling. We’re also going through a lot of feelings and emotions during this time so it’s important to FEEL those things and let our body/mind go through the motions. Don’t suppress how you’re feeling because it will trickle into other areas of your life, like your work!
9. Meditate
It’s definitely hard to get into meditation right off the bat, but it’s a good little practice to incorporate into your morning, to get yourself centred and grounded for a good day ahead. If you aren’t sure about meditation, just take some time to sit and think without distractions. It gives your mind time to wake up but also get clear for the day.
10. Take breaks
This is a must. Especially since we are at home, it’s easy to just keep working because we don’t have a lot of other things we need to do or things that break up the day. Schedule in a break in the morning, afternoon and a lunch break – as you would at your regular job. It gives you a chance to refocus, take your eyes off a screen and give your brain a little break.
Setting a routine is so important in quarantine and even when things are normal! When you incorporate different things in your routine to benefit you, it will leave you feeling energized, motivated and productive during your workday. Focus on things that fuel you, rather than drain you!
What are some things you do to stay productive?
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